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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Augustine's attitude toward those who have a "special gift" for interpretation from God?
(a) Augustine considers himself as one.
(b) Such "gifts" were exhausted at Pentecost.
(c) God will appoint them to a position of authority.
(d) They are blessed.

2. What does Augustine consider to be the ultimate thing to be enjoyed?
(a) The concept of Christian love as practiced in community.
(b) The things that God places in nature for us to use.
(c) The things that we can develop from our special gifts.
(d) The Trinity of Christianity.

3. How does Augustine use the items of his example to illustrate his distinction?
(a) The meal is enjoyed, but the pot is used.
(b) That Adam made the choice of sin, but Cain responded out of the impulse passed to him from Adam's choice.
(c) That critics who do not understand show a lack of interest to discover, but those who believe in special gifts use a false faith to rationalize their lack of interest.
(d) That Lucifer sought to discredit Job's faith, but God realized the depth of Job's convictions.

4. What is the logical inconsistency of the critics that Augustine confronts in the Preface?
(a) If learning only comes through community, why does Scripture encourage separation for prayer?
(b) If these critics believe they need no training, why are they reviewing Augustine's works?
(c) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be learned through "special gifts," and God wants everyone to know scriptures, then why doesn't everyone have "special gifts"?
(d) If these critics believe learning only comes through the possession of "special gifts," why do they teach?

5. What is the doctrine that Augustine claims critics of human teaching defend?
(a) That God will communicate through tongues.
(b) That God will communicate through signs and symbols.
(c) That God will communicate the meaning of Scripture through "special gifts."
(d) That God will communicate through the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit.

6. What does Augustine consider as God's typical means of delivering His illumination?
(a) Using the"still quiet moments" to deliver His illumination.
(b) Using nature to deliver His illumination.
(c) Using adversity to deliver His illumination.
(d) Using humans to deliver His illumination.

7. What was the first type of criticism Augustine suggests his work "On Christian Doctrine" would face?
(a) Criticism that his moral demands would be restricted to pagan converts.
(b) Criticism from those who cannot grasp his teaching.
(c) Criticism that his demands for linguistic studies were too exclusive.
(d) Criticism that blending Greek and Christian philosophies was heretical.

8. Based on Augustine's Preface, what is the perception of critics toward learning?
(a) Reliable interpretation can come from a situational application.
(b) They do not need aids for interpretation such as those Augustine offers.
(c) The most reliable aids for interpretation are writings from individuals directly connected to the authors of Scriptures.
(d) The most reliable aids for interpretation are from Scripture themselves.

9. What is the subject that Augustine addresses in Book One and Book Two?
(a) Finding what to learn from Scripture.
(b) Understanding what one should learn from Scripture.
(c) Finding a place in a Scriptural community.
(d) Understanding how to convey Scripture.

10. In Augustine's example, how can something used also be enjoyed?
(a) The shine and sturdiness of a pot or pan can be enjoyed.
(b) Friends who gather for community can enjoy the delicious meal.
(c) A friend with the special gift to cook a delicious meal can be enjoyed for their company.
(d) The community that develops for a delicious meal can be enjoyed.

11. What setting does Augustine recommend for sound Scriptural learning?
(a) A private audience with a well-trained Priest.
(b) Human communities.
(c) An ecclesiastical structure.
(d) A properly sanctioned site of Scriptural education.

12. What does Augustine encourage his critics to remember in the Preface?
(a) To practice the rhetorical skills he embraces to make criticism more effective.
(b) To patiently contemplate his points before they make a judgment.
(c) To remember experiencing learning for themselves.
(d) To be wary of falling into the trap of heresy.

13. When Augustine focuses on one of the types of criticism he expects to receive, what does he suggest to the reader?
(a) That these types of critics, if they gather a following around their criticism, are dangerously close to practicing heresy.
(b) That these types of critics are a threat to the true Church.
(c) That these types of critics are stagnant in their thoughts and threaten to limit the influence of Divine guidance.
(d) That these types of critics will either understand Scripture or believe they do.

14. What is the second important distinction that Augustine makes in Book One?
(a) The distinction between enjoy and use.
(b) The distinction between things and signs.
(c) The distinction between Christian love and pagan love.
(d) The distinction between encouraging and exhortation.

15. What does Augustine claim is the consequence of refusing to learn in a proper setting for Scriptural learning?
(a) The student loses the opportunity to participate in mutual love.
(b) The student does not receive access to the types of references that make learning complete.
(c) The student does not learn from the experience of a learned devotee of Scripture.
(d) The student does not benefit from an environment that has been modeled by Scriptural standards.

Short Answer Questions

1. What other subject does Augustine addresses in Book Three and Book Four?

2. What was the third type of criticism that Augustine suggests "On Christian Doctrine" would face?

3. What is the nature of the second important distinction Augustine identifies in Book One?

4. What is the source of teaching Augustine most advocates?

5. What is the primary tool for interpretation for the critics that Augustine primarily focuses on in the Preface?

(see the answer keys)

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